Age-Friendly Newsletters

​August 10, 2017The AFCI Exercise, Safety, and Morning Greeting Task Forces are all developing programs and would love to have more community members helping in their work (see our contact information at the end). We recently received funding from the Maine Community Foundation to support both our Transportation program and our Outreach mission. The Transportation Task Force has a popular Volunteer Driver Program through which local residents over 60 years old can get a free ride to medical appointments. Rides are dependent on the availability of drivers and must be requested 3 business days in advance of your need. Call Transportation Coordinator Kay Rector at 824-4444. The new Neighbor to Neighbor Program (N2N) has just started, allowing transportation within the communities for multiple needs and activities.A wide variety of skills would help the Communications and Information Team produce its array of promotional and educational pieces. The summer recreation program has been successful; be watching for news of the fall and winter walking program.Remember to consult the Community Calendar; coming up: Friday, August 11, the Da Ponte String Quartet at the First Baptist Church, Paris. Sunday, August 13 – American Legion Post 81 Annual Picnic; Mahoosuc Community Band Annual Concert. Wednesday, August 16 – Waterford Summer Breakfasts. Thursday, August 17 – “Rugs: 1790 to 1850” Program and Workshop at the Moses Mason House; Faith and Film at the Gem Theater.We hope you saw our display at Mollyockett Day: a collection of intriguing tools especially designed for seniors who have lost some agility and might welcome help in simple household tasks. In the next few months we will be bringing that display to groups and exhibiting it in the communities.As part of the Mahoosuc Heart & Soul program, Bethel’s favorite poet, Richard Blanco, presented a community event where he read from a work in progress, hoping to inspire listeners to “think about our connection to the Bethel area.” In addition to being the 2013 inaugural poet, Richard is a civil engineer, and he explained that “As an engineer, I specialized in community planning.” What terrific insight Blanco brings to the table.‘Tis the season! Remember that you can take any excess produce from your flourishing garden to Nabos on Mechanic Street, Bethel; those who want/need produce may take some.Here’s a tough one: what age is “old?” AARP recently asked millennials to define “old age” and to demonstrate what “old” looks like. Then they introduced them to some real “old” people. You can watch the young people’s astonishment to learn that aging is not about decline - it’s about growth. http://www.aarp.org/disrupt-aging/stories/ideas/info-2016/what-is-old-video.html?AARP lists 20 ways to save hundreds of dollars – things like: buying glasses online and asking for open-box items (like computers). Lots of other simple ideas at http://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-2017/how-to-save-hundreds-of-dollars.html?AARP notes advice for minimizing your danger of getting tick-borne diseases(http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/tick-borne-heartland-virus-fd.html):

avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter

use insect repellent when outdoors

use products that contain permethrin on clothing

bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off and more easily findticks that are crawling on you

conduct a full-body tick check after spending time outdoors

examine gear and pets, as ticks can "ride" into the home and attach to a person later.AARP offers the brain game Secret Files that requires you to catch words before they fall to the ground and then place them in the correct category. Have fun while engaging your brain! (http://braingames1.aarp.org/secret_files.html?)AARP suggests the Dirty Dozen list, which is compiled by the Environmental Working Group. Guess which fruit is at the top of their list showing high levels of pesticide residue (oh, say it ain’t so!). Strawberries. See the entire list at http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2017/fruits- vegetables-most-pesticides-fd.html?To contact the AFCI by email: info.agefriendly@gmail.com; our website: www.agefriendlybethel.org. And we hope you’ll visit our new Facebook page! The username is @agefriendlybethel; check it out and “Like” it, please! You can also send messages to our Page at m.me/agefriendlybethel.